Avoid Juice That Isn’t Pasteurized
Fresh-squeezed juice is a treat — but juice that isn’t pasteurized can contain harmful bacteria. About 2 percent of juice on the market isn’t pasteurized, says the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “While most people’s immune systems can usually fight off the effects of foodborne illness, children, whose immune systems are not fully developed, risk serious illness or even death if they drink juice or cider contaminated with harmful bacteria,” says FDA food safety medical adviser Eileen Parish, M.D. Juice must carry a warning label if not pasteurized.

Kids Need to Get Enough Sleep
Children need at least nine hours of sleep a night, says the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR). Lack of sleep can cause attention problems, frustration and emotional outbursts. “Adequate nighttime sleep is just as important as healthy eating and exercise for children’s development,” says Claude Lenfant, M.D., former head of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (which runs the NCSDR). Set a regular bedtime for kids, avoid caffeine six hours before bedtime and build in quiet time before bed.

Pollution May Make Asthma Worse
Even low levels of ozone (a key part of smog) can worsen asthma symptoms in children who use asthma maintenance drugs, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “Our results suggest that ground-level ozone is strongly associated with adverse health effects in children with asthma, even at levels below the current federal standards,” says Yale University epidemiologist Brian Leaderer, Ph.D. How can you reduce a child’s exposure to smog? Keep windows and doors closed, use air conditioners on recycle mode and reduce outdoor activities on ozone alert days.

Even a Little Lead Can Harm Kids
Lead can harm a child’s intellect at even lower levels than once believed. The greater the lead exposure, the greater the drop in IQ test scores, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine. “These findings suggest that more U.S. children may be adversely affected by environmental lead than previously estimated,” wrote coauthor Richard L. Canfield, Ph.D., of Cornell University. Lead often turns up in paint in homes built before 1978, as well as dust and soil. To learn more, call the Lead Information Center at (800) LEAD-FYI (800-532-3394).